Coffee. Ah, wonderful, helpful, delicious, energy-giving coffee. It’s tasty, and so versatile. You can have it plain, you can have it with cream and sugar, or you can have it with any wide range of ingredients, hot or cold, blended or straight.

Excellence in a cup.

But does all of that glorious coffee have an impact on your body? More specifically, does coffee stunt your growth? Let’s take a look.

What the Old Wives Say

You have most likely heard the old wives’ tale about coffee stunting your growth. But where did this come from? Is there any truth to it, or was it simply as clever way for parents to get out of having to share their coffee with their children?

According to the Smithsonian, the claim that coffee can stunt your growth came from an advertising campaign in 1933. The ad was for Postum, which was a drink that was created to be an alternative for coffee. They wanted people to drink their product in the mornings, rather than coffee.

What better way to get people to buy your product than to tell them that coffee will harm their children?

Apparently their campaign was successful, because parents today are still telling kids that caffeine will keep them short.

But was there any science behind their claims, or was it just advertising genius?

What Science Says

According to a study of 81 teenagers, there is absolutely no correlation between drinking coffee and physical growth. The study found that those who drank large amounts of caffeine every day did not have any difference in development than those who drank smaller amounts of caffeine.

Still need convincing?

According to the experts at WebMD, there is no scientific evidence to prove that coffee stunts growth. Those same experts claim that certain medications, including some ADHD medications can, in fact, stunt growth, but coffee, namely caffeine, is not on their list of culprits.

For final authority, the people of Akron’s Children’s Hospital state it very clearly that coffee will not stunt your growth.

So, in this case, science proves that the old wives were wrong. There may be other reasons that you don’t want to share your coffee beverage with your child, but you’ll have to scratch, “fear for their height” off the list.

This guy worked hard to prove that coffee would stunt someone’s growth – just to keep more of the deliciousness for himself. It didn’t work. Poor guy, he probably needs a cup of joe to feel better.

Actual Physical Effects of Coffee

Although the claim that coffee stunts your growth has proven to be false, this doesn’t mean that coffee has no impact on your body. Just like pretty much everything else in life, there are good and bad things that can come from coffee.

Here is a list of some of the scientifically proven harmful effects of caffeine:

Caffeine can make you shaky

Caffeine can make you jittery

Caffeine can cause problems with your sleep, such as making it more difficult to fall or stay asleep

Caffeine can cause changes in your heart beat, either making it beat faster or in an uneven rhythm

So there you have it. Coffee won’t make you short, it can make you jittery, but it can also reduce your risk for dementia.

This couple chooses to embrace the good stuff of coffee. Will you join them?

So How Much is Too Much?

Since there are both benefits and drawbacks to drinking coffee, it can be hard to know just what to do. The best thing to do is consult the experts. According to the staff at the Mayo Clinic, it is safe to have up to 400 mg of caffeine every day. This is the equivalent of about four cups of brewed coffee.

For some people just the thought of four cups of coffee makes them jittery and keeps them up at night. For others, four cups of coffee is barely enough to get them out the door in the morning. The reality is, caffeine doesn’t affect everyone the same way. The best thing to do is pay attention to your own body. If you are having trouble sleeping, if you are jittery through the day, or if you feel like you are on edge, then you may want to consider cutting back.

Interesting Information About Height

Now that you know that coffee will not stunt your growth, and now that parents are finding another creative way to keep their kids away from their coffee stash, you may have some lingering questions on height.

Here is an interesting article on height and how to determine how tall a child will be. Although there is no absolutely certain way to predict exactly how tall a child will be, it is possible to estimate within a couple of inches. The basic formula is this:

For girls, take your father’s height and subtract five inches. Add your mother’s height, and then divide by two.

For boys, take your mother’s height and add five inches. Then add your father’s height, and divide by two.

This person must have had really tall parents. Or he’s wearing stilts. You can’t really tell, can you? Either way, you can be sure that the amount of coffee he drinks has had absolutely no impact on how tall he actually is.

It’s time for coffee. No, it doesn’t matter what time it actually is – for the true coffee lover (addict?), any time of day is time for coffee. Now that we have settled that – one question remains: Which is the best way to brew it? Aeropress or Chemex?

This guy has clearly spent too much time trying to decide on the best way to make coffee, and not enough time drinking coffee.

What is Aeropress?

An Aeropress coffee maker is a unique way of quickly brewing coffee at home. Once you get everything set up, you get a fresh, hot cup of coffee in under a minute.

And as you undoubtedly know, sometimes you just need the coffee as quickly as you can get it. After all, how will you function if you don’t have your coffee?

The goal of the Aeropress is to produce coffee that is very similar to espresso, and the brewing method is much like that of an espresso machine. Hot water and steam are forced through the grounds, then through a filter, extracting the flavor.

You simply place the filter over the chamber and place the grounds in the filter. You pour hot water on top of it all, and then use the plunger to force the hot water through the grounds. The result?

Coffee Bliss. (The wedding dress is just to show that this woman is choosing coffee on her wedding day. Because of course she is. Happy day, happy drink, right?)

To clean up, you simply remove the filter and throw it away, give the machine a quick rinse, and get on with your day.

What is Chemex?

While the Aeropress was designed to deliver quick, espresso-type coffee, the Chemex was designed to deliver drip coffee. It is a very simple design that has been around since 1941.

These were the types of typewriters that were around when the Chemex was invented. You can’t go wrong with something that’s been around since before computers.

The Chemex coffee maker is a simple hourglass-shaped glass container. You place a special filter into the top of the cone, pour the grounds into the filter, and then pour hot water on top.

In about four minutes you will have your delicious product.

Which One Is Easier?

If you want a very simple way of making coffee without having to read instructions or do any assembly, then the Chemex may be the perfect solution for you.

Coffee making should never require this much study. Because honestly, you need the coffee to be able to study. If you have to study to get the coffee, then it’s kind of a vicious circle.

But this isn’t to say that the Aeropress requires an advanced degree in coffee brewing, it just means that it takes a little more effort at first. Once you get the hang of it, though, it is very simple.

If you are serving a crowd, the Chemex will most likely be the easiest choice since it’s basic design has a six-cup serving chamber. The Aeropress only makes one cup at time. Although the brewing time is quick, it is not as convenient for serving large groups of people.

Which One is More Durable?

Although both coffee makers should be handled with care, the Aeropress is made of heavy plastic, while the Chemex is made of glass. If you are prone to dropping things, or live in the vicinity of small humans or animals, the Aeropress would most likely be the better choice.

It’s never fun to break something glass, but it’s even worse if that glass object is a coffee maker!

Which One Tastes Better?

Determining which of these two coffee makers makes the best coffee is like determining if apples or oranges are fruitier.

They are both fruit. They are both delicious. But neither is as delicious as coffee.

Because of the two different designs and brewing methods, the types of coffee are completely different. The Aeropress coffee is very similar to espresso, meaning that it is a stronger, richer, bolder flavor. If that is what you are looking for, then you will be more than satisfied.

And if you like espresso-based drinks, such as mochas, lattes, or cappuccino, then the Aeropress is the way to go. You can certainly make these drinks with drip coffee, but you will not have the flavor that you are expecting.

The Chemex coffee is a milder, drip coffee. The coffee taste is not as intense, but you can sip it and enjoy it. So if you want a mild coffee, then this will satisfy you.

Price Comparison

Although neither coffee maker is prohibitively expensive, the Aeropress is the cheaper way to go. Both the original machine and the replacement filters are less expensive than the Chemex system.

Every penny counts, but if you have your heart set on the Chemex, you will be happy to know that the price difference is not huge. For around $20 more, you can have what you are looking for. And if both are appealing, you can get them both for under $100.

Win-win, right?

Sign Me Up – Where Can I get Them?

As you can see, both the Chemex and the Aeropress are excellent coffee makers and will give you what you are looking for: delicious coffee that you can make in the comfort of your own home. You will feel like you’ve been to a coffee house, but without the price tag or lines. If you truly want to re-create the coffee house experience at home, you can yell out your coffee order when it’s done.

If you are a coffee lover (which, of course you are, because otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog), you most likely have a very specific opinion on what type of coffee you like best. You may like the fruitier flavors found in some regions of the world, or perhaps you prefer the nuttier taste from a completely different part of the world. (If you aren’t that into coffee but want to know more about it, here’s an interesting article on the science behind it all.)

You also probably have a specific opinion on how you like to have your coffee brewed.

Or you may not really care, and will even chomp on the beans if you get desperate.

Regardless, we are going to answer the age-old question of which makes better coffee: The Aeropress or the French Press. Okay, so it’s not exactly an age old question, considering the fact that the Aeropress hasn’t been around that long. But it’s still an important question to consider.

But it’s not worth fighting over.

What’s the Difference?

The French Press is an old-school method of brewing coffee. There are different containers for them, and some are super fancy, while others are more rustic, but the concept is the same. The coffee grounds are put into the bottom of the container, and then hot water is added. Once the grounds have soaked for a while and all the coffee goodness is ready to burst, a mesh plate is pressed down on the grounds, releasing the flavor and creating the magic.

It’s so simple, anyone can do it.

The Aeropress works a bit differently. There’s a funnel that has a filter at the bottom of it, and the grounds sit on top of the beans. The hot water is pushed down through the beans and the filter, and into the waiting cup of coffee. It’s kind of like a super-fast espresso maker.

Okay, so maybe not as fast as a race car, but you still get the life juice in around a minute.

Pros and Cons?

We’re not going to go into a long list of pros and cons, because a lot of that is subjective. For example, French presses are usually made of glass. When you drop the glass container, well, it shatters.

And that’s a sad day.

The Aeropress is more durable.

But… the Aeropress has six different pieces that you need to keep track of, which can take up some room. The French press has only the container and the mesh, which fit together nicely when you aren’t making coffee.

However… the French press takes longer to brew and you have to wait for a while before you get to enjoy that first sip of coffee. The Aeropress gets you the coffee in seconds.

On the other hand… the Aeropress only makes one cup of coffee at a time. If you drink several cups of coffee each day, or each hour, this could be frustrating. Or if you have a large group of coffee drinkers at together, it could get ugly. The French press allows you to brew more than one cup at a time.

This woman had to wait too long for her coffee. This is why you must choose wisely.

But as you can see, there are pros and cons to both styles of brewing. So it comes down to one final, basic question:

Which Makes the Best Coffee?

The answer is… it depends.

Huh?

It depends on the type of flavor that you like.

If you like a very strong, bold cup of coffee, then you will most likely prefer coffee from the French press. Because there is no filter between the grounds and the water, you will get the oils from the beans. You will also get a little bit of the grounds with your coffee.

Some may find this a bit off putting.

But others may feel that this is the way that coffee is supposed to be.

The Aeropress has a filter and is brewed differently, so it is less oily French press coffee. You don’t get any of the grounds, and it is actually very similar to espresso. You get a nice, mild cup of coffee that has rich flavor.

What’s the Best Solution?

Well, since both types of brewing give you delicious coffee, why not get one of each? You can use your French press in the morning to get three or for cups. This will get you awake and fully functioning. Then in the afternoon, you can use the Aeropress for your afternoon pick-me-up, or “way to get through the morning coffee”.

Don’t Forget the Beans!

Before you start making your coffee, take a minute to consider the beans that you are using. We don’t want to sound like coffee snobs (Yes we do. That’s what we are.), but the beans make all the difference in the world.

To get the highest quality coffee and the best flavor possible, you have to make sure that you are using the best possible coffee beans. Make sure that they are freshly roasted, and haven’t been sitting on a store shelf for months.

That would not be tasty.

See this guy? He was offered coffee that was made from old beans. He said he would rather stick an icepick through his nose. So he did. Let this man be a warning to you: Don’t offer your friends coffee made from old beans, because they may do something drastic.

Once you get the best beans, you can determine which method of brewing you prefer. You may find that you like the oils, or you may find that the oils aren’t your favorite.

It’s summer time. The weather is fine and you have big plans for the day.

But then… it hits you… how could you forget? You need to buy that gift. Your mind races… what do you get for the #coffeelover in your life? You imagine endless hours at the mall searching for the perfect present.

1. Coffee Gives Me Superpowers illustrated book

The book includes pieces such as ‘Your Brain on Beer vs. Coffee’, ‘10 Coffee Myths’, ‘The Best Time of Day to Drink Coffee (According to Science)’, and ‘10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Caffeine’.

Just be prepared for endless “did you know this about coffee?” conversations afterwards.

2. Johnny Cash quote art print

Ok, we admit. We don’t know what The Man in Black would recommend as a coffee-inspired gift.

But we do know that if you’re trying to swoon the coffee lover in your life, this gorgeous downloadable print will do the job. Show your loved one you appreciate the greatest things in life: time with them… and coffee. Obvs.

Just be prepared for endless “did you know this about coffee?” conversations afterwards.

Make it extra special by pairing with an ornate frame that suits the décor of your home. Major brownie points can be yours!

Plus, the stencils could also be used for cake decorating or creating personalised art.

7. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Give them what they want. What they really, really want – coffee and chocolate.

Magic little espresso beans covered in mouth-watering dark chocolate. A portable shot of caffeine you can pop when you need a fix.

There are a lot of varieties to pick from but the CoffeeonFleek office voted Trader Joes as the favorite.

Pick up some for yourself while you’re at it, you deserve it. Did we mention they’re covered in chocolate?

Mmmmm chocolate.

8. Collapsible coffee filter

Summer time is all about being out in the fresh air. But camping doesn’t mean you should have to settle for instant coffee. This collapsible coffee filter holds #4 filters to brew 1 to 12 cups of coffee.

Someone is about to be very popular on the campsite!

Also a perfect gift for anyone about to head off on a global backpacking adventure. It weighs in at only 4.8 ounces!

9. Designer MacBook cover – Coffee: A Visual Guide

This gift comes in handy when you can’t espresso* what you want. (*See what we did there? LOL. No? Ok, we’ll stick to gift research).

A great gift option for a #digitalnomad or travelling entrepreneur. Anywhere in the world, they can use this trusty designer MacBook cover to make sure the barista knows exactly what they want.

10. Sunday Morning Coffee music

This one is for the generation of hipsters who favour a coffee shop over a traditional office setting.

Maybe now – horror of horrors – they need to work from home?

They already have the coffee machine, perfect cups, and coasters. Everything to recreate the coffee shop buzz at home. Except the right music?

Or help them make the conversion to an at-home office with a $7 premium access to Hipster Sounds. Ambient tracks like ‘Buzz of a busy Texas café’ should satisfy their café cravings.

11. Osaka designer vacuum sealed storage

Don’t let anything get in the way of the perfect cup of joe – including heat, moisture, or even UV rays.

The peeps at Osaka are strong devotees of what they call the “third wave of coffee… the belief that coffee is not just a drink or a commodity, it is a specialty”. This sleek vacuum-sealed canister will store coffee in perfect condition while keeping your counter top ‘on fleek’.

12. Camera lens travel thermos

Let your friend shock their photography buddies by pouring hot water into their expensive designer lens.

At CoffeeonFleek, we love everything to do with coffee, but from time to time, we run into readers that say they are looking to reduce their coffee consumption. And while we think that any thing in extreme amounts can be harmful, we looked into the positive side of why people should drink coffee.

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